Student directors to present eleven one act plays

The Directing II class will present 4 sets of performances from April 29 to May 1 in C.D. Smith Theatre. Each student in the class has chosen, cast and directed a short play. While these will not be fully mounted productions, and in fact focus is on the text of the play more than technical aspects, all of the directors have worked to assist one another and crew for their peers' plays. Some students in the class will be using their plays as their senior projects in theatre.

Becky Prophet, who teaches the class, emphasizes the fact that the class forms a "true ensemble" in light of these projects. She admired the way the students have helped and supported one another as they have developed their individual works.

The plays will go up in two distinct groups. The first "set" of plays will be presented on April 29 at 7 p.m. and again on May 1 at 7 p.m. These plays include "The Universal Language," written by David Ives and directed by Melanie Baker, "Ferris Wheel," written by Mary Miller and directed by Chris Hanretty, "Kingdom of the Spider," written by Nick Zagone and directed by Humberto Bonilla, "Anything for You," written by Cathy Celesia and directed by Kalli Dehuvyne and "The Problem," written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Tyler Mackenzie Cummins.

The second "set" will be presented on April 30 at 7 p.m. and again on May 1 at 2 p.m. These plays include "Dancing in the Afternoon," written by Chris Mann and directed by Harold Muntner, "Pillow Talk," written by Peter Tolan and directed by Anna Kowalczuk, "Borrowed Parts," written by Walter Wykes and directed by Emily Dowd, "Railing It Uptown," written by Shirley Lauro and directed by Ramona Kingsley, "Funeral Parlor," written by Christopher Durang and directed by John Hamolsky and "Frog Loves Christy," written by Ann Wuehler and directed by Javier Pritchard.

In addition to noting the strength of the class as an ensemble, Prophet also expressed that all of the plays were very good. "[The plays] represent an amazing range of ideas and outlooks," she said.

Each "set" will run approximately an hour and a half, and all of the performances are free.

The plays are intended for mature audiences only, and contain profanity and sexually explicit material.